Critic’s Picks (Feb. 18 – 24)
Ludwig van Toronto’s weekly Critic’s Picks are a curated list of some of the best concerts happening now through the end of the week. For a look at the full breadth of what’s available in and around Toronto, check out our curated concert listings here.
Tuesday 19
Canadian Opera Company | Vocal Series: On Shining Wings. 12 p.m., Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen St. W. Free. Limited Seating.
This recital marks the 1,000th given at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. British soprano Susan Bullock, a former Brunnhilde and Elektra at the COC and currently our Klytaemnestra, sings the Wesendonck-Lieder, Duparc, Quilter and Britten. Liz Upchurch is the pianist. Details
Wednesday 20
Canadian Opera Company| Vocal Series: Les Adieux: Samuel Chan. 12 p.m., Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen Street W. Free. Limited Seating.
COC Ensemble baritone Samuel Chan gives an All-Schubert farewell recital. Stephane Mayer is the pianist. | Details
Glenn Gould Foundation/Canadian Opera Company | Glenn Gould Prize Gala. 7:30 p.m. Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen St. W. $28-$156
A gala to honour the legendary American soprano Jessye Norman, who receives the Twelfth Glenn Gould Prize, the first woman and the first opera singer to receive the Prize. Artists include Nina Stemme, Sondra Radvanovsky, Pumeza Matshikiza, Wallis Giunta, Ryan Speedo Green, Nathaniel Dett Chorale and many others. Conductors (Johannes Debus, Donald Runnicles, Jean-Philippe Tremblay and Bernard Labadie). | Details
Toronto Symphony Orchestra | Alisa Weilerstein. 8 p.m. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. $40.75-$96.75 Repeats Feb. 21.
The brilliant cellist Alisa Weilerstein returns to the TSO to play a program of Shostakovich and Bartok. Thomas Dausgaard conducts. | Details
Thursday 21
Canadian Opera Company | Vocal Series: Les Adieux: Poèmes pour Mi. 12 p.m., Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen St. W. Free. Limited seating.
COC Ensemble soprano Lauren Eberwein bids farewell in a recital of Messiaen’s Poèmes pour Mi. Also featured is pianist Rachael Kerr playing Ravel’s Jeux d’eau. | Details
Canadian Opera Company | Cosi fan tutte. 7:30 p.m. Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen St. W. Repeats Feb. 23 (last). $40-$350.
Last two shows of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte with a brilliant cast – Kirsten MacKinnon, soprano (Fiordiligi); Emily D’Angelo, mezzo (Dorabella); Johannes Kammler, bass (Guglielmo); Ben Bliss, tenor (Ferrando); Russell Braun, baritone (Don Alfonso); Tracy Dahl, soprano (Despina); Bernard Labadie, conductor; Atom Agoyan, stage director. | Details
Art of Time Ensemble | Best of Music. 8 p.m. Harbourfront Centre, Theatre, 235 Queens Quay W. $25-$64. Repeats Feb. 22 & 23.
For its 20th anniversary, the Art of Time Ensemble is presenting The Songs Program and The Classical Program featuring works by Tom Waits, Schubert, Queen, Beethoven, Bruce Cockburn, and others. | Details
Tafelmusik | Tales of Two Cities: The Leipzig-Damascus Coffee House. 8 p.m., Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. $38-$90. Repeats Feb. 22, 23, 24 (mat).
First seen in 2016, the Alison MacKay-created show explores the musical connections between Europe and the Middle East by pairing Telemann, Monteverdi and Handel with traditional Arabic music. Alon Nashman, narrator; Maryem Tollar, narrator & vocalist; Elisa Citterio, music director. | Details
Opera Atelier | The Angel Speaks. 8 p.m. Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park. $69.
Opera Atelier presents a concert in the atrium of the Royal Ontario Museum that combines the music of Henry Purcell with baroque and contemporary dance, plus a new Canadian commission by composer Edwin Huizinga. Mireille Asselin (soprano), Jesse Blumberg (baritone), Artists of Atelier Ballet and members of Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra. An informal reception follows the performance. | Details
Friday 22
Canadian Opera Company | Elektra. 7:30 p.m. Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen St. W. $40-$350.
Last call for the Strauss thriller! A stupendous show with Christine Goerke (Elektra); Erin Wall (Chrysothemis); Susan Bullock (Klytämnestra); William Schwinghammer (Orest); and Michael Schade (Aegisth); Johannes Debus conducts. | Details
Saturday 23
Toronto Symphony Orchestra | Romantic Chopin. 8 p.m. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. $60.75-$154.
Alexander Shelley conducts the National Arts Centre Orchestra in a program of Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 (David Fray, piano), and Schuman’s Symphony No. 1 “Spring.” Also appearing are violinists Yosuke Kawasaki and Jessica Linnebach. | Details
Sunday 24
Royal Conservatory of Music | Seiler & Chung. 2 p.m., Mazzoleni Hall, 273 Bloor St. W. $30
Violinist Mayumi Seiler and pianist Jeanie Chung join forces in a recital of Debussy, Brahms, Schubert, and Alain Rideout. Joining them is the Glenn Gould School String Ensemble. | Details
- SCRUTINY | From The Heart: Ema Nikolovska And Charles Richard-Hamelin Offer Unique Program At Koerner Hall - March 26, 2024
- SCRUTINY | The Glenn Gould School Spring Opera Presents A Superb Dialogues Des Carmélites - March 22, 2024
- SCRUTINY | Effervescent Bartered Bride Marks Opera By Request’s First 2024 Presentation - March 12, 2024